Kenneth Simmons

Kenneth Hopkins Simmons (1904 - 1981) was a mayor of Milton, Washington. He was also the founder and mayor of Bonney Lake, Washington in 1949. He is most known for his placing a mule, named "Boston Curtis", on the ballot for Republican precinct committeeman for Milton.[2]

Kenneth Simmons
Born
Kenneth Hopkins Simmons

February 2, 1904
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
DiedDecember 27, 1981(1981-12-27) (aged 77)
Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Resting placeSumner Cemetery, Sumner, Washington
NationalityAmerican
Other namesCatsup[1]
OccupationMayor
Known forMilton Mule hoax
Notable workBonney Lake, Washington
Political partyDemocrat
Spouse2

Career

In 1938, Simmons entered Curtis into the election for the post of Republican precinct committeeman for Milton. He ran unopposed and was elected on September 13, 1938 by 51 votes, despite having run no election campaign, or offered a platform.[3] Residents were surprised to learn that Curtis was actually a long-eared brown mule.

Simmons stated that he had done this to demonstrate that many people vote without considering who they are actually voting for.[4]

The mule later crossed the floor, joining the Stevens lobby.[5]

On Halloween 1939, he hired a group of teenagers as special policemen for the night. Twenty teenagers from nearby Fife invaded Milton and challenged them to a fight. The Milton teenagers defended themselves with a fire hose, until one of the others was struck by the nozzle of the hose and had to be driven to a hospital with head injuries. State troopers eventually arrived to stop the fight.[6][7]

After serving as mayor of Milton, Simmons served in the state legislature for three terms, representing the 25th district. Later, he and his family moved to Bonney Lake, where he helped the city incorporate and became its first mayor.[8][9]

References
  1. Nelson, Leonard. "An Unforgettable Character: Kenneth "Catsup" Simmons". Milton History (PDF). Milton. p. 18.
  2. "The Milton Mule, 1936". Museum of Hoaxes. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. "Meet The Winner". Rushville Republican. Rushville, Indiana. 15 Sep 1938. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "National Affairs: Boston Curtis". TIME. Sep 26, 1938. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  5. Stinnet, Jack (17 Jul 1940). "In Washington". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, Massachusetts. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Halloween prank strategy backfires". The Bismarck Tribune. November 2, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. "Didn't Work". The Evening Herald. Klamath Falls, Oregon. 1 Nov 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 21 November 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "K. H. Simmons, Bonney Lake ex-mayor, dies". The News Tribune. December 30, 1981. p. B14. Retrieved October 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "BONNEY LAKE HISTORY". Retrieved 6 April 2013.


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